ICC World Cup: Hadlee delighted to see India's pace problem sorted out

Mar 10, 2015, 08:33 IST
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Ashwin Ferro

But New Zealand cricket legend's admiration for India's fast bowling line-up of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar will be right up there in the list of accolades

Hamilton: The Indian pace department has earned a lot of praise for their fine showing in the World Cup. But New Zealand cricket legend Sir Richard Hadlee's admiration for India's fast bowling line-up of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar will be right up there in the list of accolades.

Sir Richard Hadlee at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand yesterday. Pic/Getty Images for Tourism New Zealand

Hadlee said at Hobbiton Village, where Hollywood blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' was shot from 1999 to 2000: "I've been very impressed with the Indian pace attack now, than what they were a couple of months ago. In Australia, I thought the attack really struggled, with their line and length and they were too inconsistent. But they've sorted that out. Mohammed Shami in particular has been impressive.

"Bowling was India's weak link, but now that they've sorted that out, it's going to make them very competitive in this tournament," The 63-year-old former pace genius however, rated compatriots Tim Southee and Trent Boult as the best pacers on view in the tournament. "Out of the four good pace attacks in this World Cup – India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa – our attack has proved they are the best in the world at the moment.

Mohammed Shami

Southee and Boult have 13 wickets each. We have won five out of five matches and bowled out sides all five times. But there are other good bowling attacks too. Australia, with Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, Dale Steyn is getting better for South Africa and Morne Morke is a good back-up," said Hadlee, who played a friendly cricket match with a group of Indian journalists and special guests from New Zealand Cricket at Hobbiton.